The perfect mom, with the perfect husband and perfect kids, who lives in the perfect house with the perfect answer to everything.
The guy down the road. The one who always lets his dog out to do his business in your yard, and stroll your trash all over the neighborhood for you to clean up. His cheerful smile taunting you before you have even had your morning cup.
Sometimes, if we are really honest, we can admit even the ones that we do love fall into this category. The nagging mom, the ungrateful husband, the daughter that reminds you that you are never quite enough.
The people who want and want, and take and take, until you feel empty and dry and ready to run.
One too many times of picking up dirty socks.
One too many times of not asking how my day was.
One too many hurt and bitter feelings left untended.
One too many.
Some people are just not worthy of love.
What is love? Is it something we can lose or decrease? Is it something we can fall into or out of? Does love come with time or isn't something instinctual? Is it shown or felt, and if it isn't, did it ever exist at all?
Love your neighbors.
Sometimes that feels like little more than an useless adage, especially in the heat of battle, in the heart of the storm. What about me? we ask.
How does Christ show love?
"Now before the Passover when Jesus knew that His time was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His Own which were in the world. He loved them to the very end." John 13:1-2
Here He is. In the "Love" gospel of John, in a room with His disciples. Judas has not betrayed him yet, but he would. The disciples have gathered together, but Jesus knew that very soon they would scatter. Soon he would be left alone, betrayed by the ones that he loves "to the very end." and what does He do?
"He rose from His supper, and laid aside His garments, and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began washing His disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded." John 13:4-5
Jesus takes the role of a servant. Not just a servant, but the lowest slave of the household. He knows what they will do, and he washes their feet for the journey. Why?
Peter asks Him. "Then cometh He to Simon Peter, and Peter said unto him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do you know not now, but you shall know hereafter. Peter said unto Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with Me."
We are all dirty. We are all unlovable. Every. Single. One. No one is greater. All of us are covered with road dust from where we have run from the Lord. Desired our own way and landed in the muck.
Only Jesus can make us clean again, then He shows us how to love. Truly love.
"A new Commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one to another." John 13:34-35
As I have loved you.
Scary words coming from our Savior. Jesus, who gave Him self up as a sacrifice, who denied Himself. The one stripped down, beaten up, mocked and crucified. THAT Jesus, tells us to love others, as He has loved us.
When we began this journey, some of us thought it would be easy. It isn't. This life is the hardest thing you will ever do, and also the easiest. It means dying. Laying down your will, your desires, your dreams, your hopes, the very essence of who you are on the alter, a willing sacrifice.
This is how they will know us. This is how we are set apart. We remember who we were. We remember who we are without Him. We are all unlovable. Except by Him who called you by name, out of that pit, and washed you clean.
Love isn't a mushy gushy feeling. It isn't only for your husband and your children. It isn't dependent on the actions and words of others. It isn't something that comes one night in the darkness and flees with the morning light.
Judas was among those whose feet were washed by our Lord, moments before He rushed off to betray Him.
We love, because He first loved us. We serve, because He first served. We die to ourselves, because what He has is better than the filth we had before, and in loving others, we worship the Lord by serving the ones He loves.
It is worship. It is a gift. Love reminds us who we are, and who we were.
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